Punk Hazard.
When the island appeared in the sky, it caused a huge commotion.
"Look, an island is flying in the sky!"
A large number of researchers walked out of the base, pointing at the island flying in from the distance.
"An island... the legendary pirate Golden Lion!"
When Caesar saw the island flying in the sky, his face turned pale with fright, and he hurriedly fled back into the base.
Golden Lion Shiki had disappeared for over a decade, and not many people remembered this legendary pirate.
Most of the researchers in the base were shut-ins who didn't pay much attention to the outside world.
But Caesar was different.
He had once been a colleague of Vegapunk, the man known as the world's greatest genius, in the same organization.
After the MADS organization developed the Lineage Factor technology, both he and Vegapunk were captured by the World Government and later defected to it.
For his research on artificial Devil Fruits, Caesar was no stranger to the powers of the Float-Float Fruit possessed by Golden Lion Shiki.
At first glance, he recognized the floating island as the work of the Float-Float Fruit.
To him, this meant Golden Lion Shiki was attacking Punk Hazard.
Before long.
The island slowly descended and landed near the waters of Punk Hazard.
Soon, a warship sailed over from Punk Hazard.
"Dr. Reddy, please."
Borsalino, with his hands in his pockets, escorted Reddy onto the warship and returned to Punk Hazard.
"Vegapunk isn't here?"
Reddy scanned the crowd of researchers watching the commotion but didn't see Vegapunk, so he asked Borsalino.
Borsalino signaled Reddy not to rush, then announced the World Government's orders to the researchers. "This is Dr. Reddy, who will also be the new director of the Punk Hazard Research Institute."
The researchers immediately erupted in uproar.
Not just them, even Reddy looked at Borsalino in surprise.
Me?
The director of the research institute?
"I object!"
Caesar flew over from the distance and stopped in front of Reddy, shouting indignantly, "What qualifications does he have to become the director?"
The others agreed.
No one had any objections when Vegapunk was appointed director.
But now, some outsider was being parachuted in to replace Vegapunk. No one accepted that.
"He is the person who has mastered the Lineage Factor technology most perfectly after Vegapunk."
Borsalino wasn't surprised by Caesar's reaction and simply reiterated the World Government's decision. "Additionally, Punk Hazard will be designated as a dedicated Lineage Factor research base. Dr. Vegapunk will be transferred to Egghead to oversee a new research institute."
The uproar among the other researchers lessened.
They didn't have strong objections to this decision by the World Government.
The World Government had redefined the research direction of the Punk Hazard Research Institute, and the new director was an expert officially recognized by them.
So what was there to oppose?
At this point, Reddy understood.
Clearly, the World Government didn't want to put all its eggs in one basket, assigning him and Vegapunk to Punk Hazard and Egghead respectively.
No matter which side developed more advanced Lineage Factor technology, the World Government would be the winner.
He also saw another intention behind the World Government's move.
The World Government was trying to seize control of the science division by specifically placing Vegapunk in Egghead, which was directly under its jurisdiction.
At the same time.
Punk Hazard was located in the New World, close to Marineford.
If Reddy made any suspicious moves, Marine Headquarters could respond immediately to capture him.
A win-win situation!
But Caesar was very unhappy and continued to loudly object. "He's the one who has mastered the perfect Lineage Factor after Vegapunk? Don't make me laugh!"
"After Vegapunk, I am the scientist who has mastered the most perfect Lineage Factor technology!"
"I oppose him becoming the director!"
Caesar's ranting swayed some of the researchers.
That's right.
If anyone in the world had mastered Lineage Factor technology, Vegapunk was undoubtedly first.
Next would be Vinsmoke Judge, the founder of the Germa Kingdom, and Caesar, who was developing artificial Devil Fruits.
As for Reddy... they hadn't seen any achievements from him yet.
Snap!
Reddy smiled and snapped his fingers.
A clone based on himself, fused with the powers of the Float-Float Fruit, was summoned in response.
Gasp!
When the researchers saw two identical copies of Reddy, they all inhaled sharply.
Without a doubt, this was a clone created using Lineage Factor technology.
Caesar sneered. "So you're a Devil Fruit user... I could make a hundred of these clones. But what's the use of such a clone?"
Reddy smiled and snapped his fingers again.
The clone then floated into the air.
The crowd erupted once more.
Many researchers stared at the floating clone with feverish eyes, their gazes hot enough to melt steel.
That's right!
A clone with Devil Fruit powers!
And a Paramecia-type ability at that!
This was a huge leap ahead of even Dr. Vegapunk's research.
Now, they no longer doubted Reddy's expertise in Lineage Factor technology and fully accepted their new director.
Caesar was dumbfounded.
Only now did he realize that it wasn't Golden Lion attacking earlier, but a perfect clone created using Lineage Factor technology.
"Impossible!"
Caesar couldn't accept this harsh reality.
Originally, he had been the second-in-command at the institute, just below Vegapunk.
Since Vegapunk was being transferred to Egghead, he should have been the one to take over as director.
But this parachuted director had demonstrated Lineage Factor technology even more advanced than Vegapunk's.
Apart from stubborn denial, he couldn't think of any way to compete for the director position.
After all, becoming director meant access to massive research funding, eliminating the need to secretly collaborate with Doflamingo.
"I'll prove that I'm more qualified to be director than this guy!" Caesar spat out a final threat before flying back into the research institute.
His research on the artificial Devil Fruit SMILE was at a critical stage. He believed that once he succeeded in creating it, Reddy would have nothing left to compete with.
"I'll give you a list later."
Borsalino, hands still in his pockets, completely ignored Caesar and instructed, "You'll need to rebuild the team. The remaining personnel will be transferred to Egghead."
"Also, I'll be stationed at Punk Hazard from now on."
Reddy shrugged.
This was within his expectations.
After all, he had just defected to the World Government. Being given control of the Punk Hazard Research Institute was already a rare opportunity. Having a monster like Borsalino keeping an eye on him wasn't unreasonable.
"Later, I'll also provide you with a list. Please prepare it as soon as possible."
Reddy walked toward the institute's entrance, hands in his pockets, and said, "I'll produce satisfactory results quickly to prove the World Government didn't make a mistake."
"Also, please prepare food for me."
"I prefer Sea King meat."
"If possible, arrange a meeting with Vegapunk as soon as possible. Thank you."
Borsalino rubbed his chin, watching Reddy enter the institute, then took out a Den Den Mushi.
The call connected.
Borsalino lazily reported, "He said he'll produce satisfactory results quickly."
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